Kopineshwar Mandir, Thane
Encyclopedia
Kopineshwar Mandir is among the most revered patron temples in Thane city & is a must visit for any devotee/ tourist coming to Thane
.
has a 5 feet diameter by 5 feet tall Shiva Linga. Within the holy enclosure of the Kopineshwar temple are six small temple shrines dedicated to Brahma Dev
, Rama
, Maruti
, Shitala Devi
, Uttareshwar and Kalika Devi
. Opposite to the shrine of Kalika Devi is another shrine dedicated to Gayatri Devi
. Many of these shrine temples as still picturesque and still maintain the old red roof tile and wooden structure. The entire temple complex is quite & peaceful unlike the busy Thane station road surroundings.
As Thane is rightly known as the City of Lakes & as per Vaastu principles that the Canals, lakes, rivers are best if they are in north or east of the house/Temple - this ancient temple was also nestled on the banks of the Masunda Lake popularly known as Talao Pali
. But a Municipal garden & road now running next to the Temple Complex reclaimed the land from the lake thus separating the lake.
& built the Kopineshwar Temple during their reign. It is popular belief that the temple has been built in the honour of Kopineshwar that was found under water.
Thane
Thane , is a city in Maharashtra, India, part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, northeastern suburb of Mumbai at the head of the Thane Creek. It is the administrative headquarters of Thane district. On 16 April 1853, G.I.P...
.
Temple Complex
Located on the narrow but busy Bazaar Peth, Station Road, at the entrance gates, one is greeted by huge sized Nandi (Sacred Bull). The principal deity temple of ShivaShiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
has a 5 feet diameter by 5 feet tall Shiva Linga. Within the holy enclosure of the Kopineshwar temple are six small temple shrines dedicated to Brahma Dev
Brahma
Brahma is the Hindu god of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. According to the Brahma Purana, he is the father of Mānu, and from Mānu all human beings are descended. In the Ramayana and the...
, Rama
Rama
Rama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
, Maruti
Maruti
Māruti can be*Maruti is a Sanskrit word referring to Hanuman, son of Marut , the Hindu Wind God Vayu*Marut is said to have two sons: Hanuman the bachelor God and Bhima....
, Shitala Devi
Shitala Devi
Shitala , also called Sitala , is a Hindu goddess widely worshipped in North India, West Bengal, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan as the pox-goddess. Shitala Devi literally means the cold Goddess.-Name and variants:...
, Uttareshwar and Kalika Devi
Kali
' , also known as ' , is the Hindu goddess associated with power, shakti. The name Kali comes from kāla, which means black, time, death, lord of death, Shiva. Kali means "the black one". Since Shiva is called Kāla - the eternal time, Kālī, his consort, also means "Time" or "Death" . Hence, Kāli is...
. Opposite to the shrine of Kalika Devi is another shrine dedicated to Gayatri Devi
Gayatri
Gayatri is the feminine form of , a Sanskrit word for a song or a hymn. Gayatri is a consort of Brahma and the goddess of learning. Brahma married her when there was a need for a companion during a yajna. Brahma had to start the yajna along with his wife...
. Many of these shrine temples as still picturesque and still maintain the old red roof tile and wooden structure. The entire temple complex is quite & peaceful unlike the busy Thane station road surroundings.
As Thane is rightly known as the City of Lakes & as per Vaastu principles that the Canals, lakes, rivers are best if they are in north or east of the house/Temple - this ancient temple was also nestled on the banks of the Masunda Lake popularly known as Talao Pali
Talao Pali
Talao Pali is a lake located in Thane in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The lake is surrounded by roads on all sides including Shivaji path, Uthalsar road and Talao pali road. The lake is located about 600 m west of Thane creek and a kilometer north of Thane railway station...
. But a Municipal garden & road now running next to the Temple Complex reclaimed the land from the lake thus separating the lake.
Early history
The Silhara dynasty Kings who ruled Thane between 810 and 1240 AD were the devoted disciples of Lord ShivaShiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
& built the Kopineshwar Temple during their reign. It is popular belief that the temple has been built in the honour of Kopineshwar that was found under water.